K ?

*3

Hirara City, Miyako Island, Ryukyus

Donald and Fay Riokerson Kirs# IV. Cox, Finanoial Secretary

1550 Sallal lload

Publications mailed bys Greemvood Christian Church

8015 Fremont Avenue North

Woodburn, Oregon
Link-Letter #117
Dear Pellow-Laborers;

Seattle, IVa^hi^ton. 98103

January

FROM COHES VJORD OF TEE DEATH OF OJR BELOVED lirs* Stk^: (pronounced like Sue-me) Kav/amitsu* Every Lord's Day axternoon v/hen v/e went td the Loper colony
to conduct a service, Sumi v/as at the church door v;aving to us as v;^ turae'd the" bend"

in the road that leads down into the Colony*

As vro loft, she

.SE^ldng and
opaiyation and tlwy then

\Yavins again until vfe v/ere out of sight.

it was cancer of the breast..

Few lepers die of Just lepro$y^ they have

v/eakened bodies T.'hich easily get other diseases v;hich cause their deathir^ her case
VJhile vtq vrare there sho had

her death, J4r. Ishimine said,

thou;;ht that she v/ould be alright, but the cancer returned^;^ In

"You remember that at the faref'ell ^nrfcre the Leper

V.'e liad ii6l7" fofg.otrten:,^<K)uld

to teilsus of

Church folk gave in youi* honor, Sumi was v^eeping."

never forget this friend whom vre loved and who loved us so dearl^i

MIS. TOJ/il SUGAIiA.##* another leper friend vn*ote this testimony for uS:

**I am ashamed to say that I started to go to church way back in 1961 and then I
quit. J,Iy husband v^ras a Christian so he many times told me to study tho Vford of God.
meeting he asked me to go v/ith him to church but I told him that I had Every church

no time to go. I had been fooling myself by saying that I could go to heaven -.rithout going to church because my heart v;as more pure than the Christians. I said this because all my mind was attracted by worldly things and controlled by Satan

Thanks to God v/ho is the Lord, He saved sinful me. I was taught through home meet
ings. Thanks to my Christian neighbor's love and concern for me.. I came to know-

that each word of God gives my heart peace. To believe and worship God I came to the decision to accept Christ and to be baptized I v;as baptised on the significant
forget it all my life. Thanks also to 1&*. & lies* Hlckerson v/ho have come

day of Christ's resurrection on April 18, 1965. The hearty prayer of Evangelist Ifr. Ishimine on that occasion caused my heart to choke with thanksgiving. I vfill never
to our

thanks to a beautiful song v/hich tells of

"Oh Happy Day")

Leper Colony for tv/islve long years nov?, every vreek bringing us the Gospel. And ay
the joys of the new-born (She refers to-

tions and gave myself up to the lust of the world. But from now on I do like to

Before I became a Cliristian I was tempted by Satan in believing in many supersti

lira. Tomi (Toe-me).

obey our Lord for my daily happy Christian life."

will grow up to be missionaries. V/e have been esked if v/e v/ill later on be able to
return to I'iyakoc lio^ v/e cpnr.ot ever return.

this v/as true, and r;-e accepted it as the guidance of the Lord. Instead of being unhappy about it^ ws have entered v^ole-heartedly into the work here in Tacoraa, and are happy to be of service here. Vfe trust that some of those v/hom we are teaching

Friends in Jbnerica ask us: "Do you miss your v/ork on Iliyuko?" The ansv/er iss Of course we doj." But v;hen the Doctor told us that we must leave, v/e knew that

woric so faitlifully during tne year of 1966. RE^JEI.IBER that the work continues, and
that our mission is supplying the funds.
In His blessed service,
Donald and Pay Riokerson

six nights a week in fc>,3 Tarious "Tillages. Vfith our able Hobuo Shimozato giving ful time to the Lepoi Colony v/crl-^ and v/ith Claire Boulton supervising it all, and preaching in Japanese the weoks he is on lliyako. OUR !IHAI?ICS to all who s^M*cd-the

Iffi UORK GIT i^YAI^O continues as beforev/ith our two native Evangelists' preachiig

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I8W 1 19S6
iiSSiSTIAN MISSJOH

Hirara Cit/, Miyako Island, Ryukyus

Donald and Pay Hickerson Mrs, W,> Cox, Financial Secretary

1H50 Sallal Road

Publications mailed "by: Greenwood Christian Church

8015 Fremont Avenue North

Vfoodburn, Oregon

Seattle, Washington

98103

Link-Letter #118

Dear PellowLaborers:

Mso'ch and April 1966

MIS# MAKIU SHIOKAWA-another faithful Leper Christian went to her reward on February
tnrenty-rifth. We cherish her memory and the thriHing words ^pf her testimony, which wisre as follov.'ss "I was bom on December 10, 1904 and became a leper v/hon I was nineteen years of age Therefore I was forsaken by people and could not live iTith my pai-entSp but had to come to this leper colony and start my tearful life# At that tlmo I did not have any hope to liveo For me every day v/as darkness so that I could not enjoy anything. I cursed both God and the world#. Several times I
tried to commit 8Uicide.

In my youn^r days

when ! lived

in iapan,. I Ti^eafc. to the

Episcopal Church and was sprinkled# Soon after this, however, I neglected to go to Church and stumbled on- I came to believe that only money could make my life happy*
The more I was enslaved by material things, the more troubles were added to me* l\wis a perishing body but thanks to God He saved me thru the Bible and Pastor Shimolsawa here at the Leper Colony

ye that labor and are heavy laden and I ^Till give you rest#." Matt. Ils28. Meeting this truth my heart which had been closed gradually opened day "By day# I dfecided to be born anew according to exactly what the Bible teachess believe, repent, confess day was such bad weather that I thought we eould not have baptisimal service in the sea* I prayed to God and said, "God forgive all my sins and make me your child#. To
become your child I believe in Jesus Christ as my Saviour#. If this bad weather is given to me, by you, I will accept it willingly. When I think of the cross of Christ
Ishimine and other brothers in the Lord love me."

I met God's Word while I v/as reading, "Come unto me, all

and be immersed into Christ#

I decided to be born anew on Dec# 18, 1960#

But that

I can put up with anything#" Thanks to God He accepted my prayer and I could be born anew that day. I shall never forget but keep in mind that Mr. &Jfrs# Rickerson, Ifr#

(She died at age 62, having lived in the Leper Colony for forty-three years. There she married a Leper Christian and they were living happily together Trtien she was suddenly taken ill and died. Always she had a bright and plea
sant face. We rejoice that she is now happy with the Lord#)
which we have sent

ALL 3HB LEPER CHRISTIiiNS are going to be happy when they receive the check for $50
who supplied the funds with v/hich to build the Chapel,

decorate their chapel This was a special gift from Miss Clara M^ield, the lady

them with which to buy paint to

re

FROM B7A1JGELIST I^IMIUEi Dear & Ifrs. Donald and Fay Rickersons Thank you very much for you wrote us warm and very much joyful letter# The Lord irtiom we love is guiding and blessing the work on layako. Every night but Saturday, we two evangelists both have Christian meeting either in Hirare, Irabu, Wanseien, Sugama, Kadekari, Nakayama, Nishibe, Tfruka, or Aragusuky.. E/ery Christian of those churches: greets you and bhank to God for your sake and they are happy in Christ our Lord* At

every chtarch when I spoke of you through yoiar letter some of them shed tear with joy
and think of you very much. Yes, lUcm Rickerson and Mrs# Fay you are our father

mother of faith-

faith to Him.," as you -naught us#. Yes, we should do it, and willing to do it. Now no trouble at all to do it because the Lord is with us day and nights We Td.ll fight
n,g:ainsj Satan and spread the Word of God to everywhere as long as we live" .#. Isao
Ishimiiie.

obedioacs to Him^ we hoar your voice to us every minute that days "stay in steadfast

I know what you want-us to do very much. It is faith tr Him and

On one Sunday vre presented the ?ayako work in the Church at Sedro Wrolley,. Both of us spoke at each of three services, and we had a wor.ir'erfui time of fellowship,
ire pray with us for the salvation of sculs on M3.yaLo.
Donald and Fay Riokei-son

3594 Ee ;-c n" (Eye) St.

Tioaaa, Wash. 93404

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m

Hirara City,Miyako Island, I?yukyus

Donald and Fay Rickerson Mrs.. W.H. Cox, Financial Secretary

1550 Sallal Road

Publications mailsd by: Greenwood Christian Church Seattle, Wa&Jiington 98105

8015 Fremont Avenue North

Woodburn, Oregon
Link-Letter #119

Dear Fellow-Laborers:

June, 1966

Our FURLOUGH year, ends^ thetlast d^ay of June. We will never be able to re turn to Miyako because of ill health. Therefore we will be retiring from the Mission PAYROLL on that date, but not from the MISSION WORK. According to the strenght that the Lord gives us, we want to be busy in His service..
As we are able v/e will teach missions and present the Miyako wQrk.. , -

19^7 is now in full charge of the Miyako work.

ionary of the
from them. He does not

CLAIRE BOULTON (our son-in-law) who has been working with us on Miyako since

Decatur, Illinois Church of Christ, and receives his salary

have sufficient general funds for the Miyako work-.

He is the Living-Link MissiThis we will continue to

back $2000 during

SUPPORT for the Miyako work will still be needed.

raise and to sent to the field as needed.

this Furlough year.

Mrs. W.H. Cox, our Financial Secretary

We

have sent

will

continue

to receive the funds and sent the receipts.

At MCKINLSY PARK CHUESTIAN CHURCH, here in Tacoma, Washington for the

ducted Junior Church, etc.

pasjb

"ton months we have been able to serve the Lord. Ito. Rickerson has been aS|7sociate Pastor and Mrs. Rickerson has been a Sunday School Teacher con

MISSION PR3SENTATI0NS have also been given in many churches.

much when you spoke to us last Fall. So we are inviting you to speak again this Spring. We would like for you to show slides this time. The testi
ness we heard over and over from the Lepers. While we have not had a dramatic result those who responded are precious to us and to the Lord and
have encouraged our hearts.

enjoyable to us and a blessing to others as this quote from a letter tells.: "We enjoyed your talk, display items, and Miyako Christian's Testimonies so

This has been

monies you read from the Leprosy Church was a real blessing and inspiration

to us all Especially so as we were just about to begin a program of "reaching others" in our community, much like that method of personal wit

OUR HEALTH is not too good at the present time. Mrs. Rickerson suffered four attacks of na pectoris in March, and two more sever attacks early in June. Mr. Rickerson has a great deal of chest pain when he walks. During the month of July we will be taking care of a friend's home, so that
she can make a trip to visit relatives. The addresa will be: 145 N.W. 75th Seattle, Washington. Phone SU 4-7467

Following that our plans are indefinite, but information regarding us always be obtained from our son- Wayne- whose address is: 26305 S.3. 158th, Issaquah, Washington. Phone BXbook 2-6950

can

our Leper Christians. Also GOOD news of the salvation of three girls at the MlysTgnni" Churchyand a High School g^rl and a man in the Hirara Chrueh -'We rejoiced .t.<?,;, hear that.,. one of our Christian men who. was mentally ill for several years has been restored to health and is" sending tis a letter. jA Chriatian Radio program has been set up on the .Island and is a\he^^ in
spreading the Gospel. Both of our EVANGELISTS will continue iio preach
many years as the financial support is supplied. ^

From 3VANG3LIST ISHIMINB, comes word

this week of the death of two more of

During our (nearly) THIRT3EN Y3ARS of missionary service we have written you 119 of these monthly link-letters, and 40 of the four-page Printed News sheet with pictures and testimonies. THIS WILL BE THS LAST ISSUE '/S WILL PUBLISH. All who have supported the work will be on Mr. Boulton's mailing

list and you will be receiving his publications from now on.

Also

we; will

write you personal letters occasionally.

Thank you so much for upholding us through these happy missionary years.
Yours in His glad service
Donald and Fay Rickerson-